Suzana’s Story

What would it be like to be a child in Africa? Suzana was birthed to work from sun up to sun down. From the time she was 5 years old, she would carry water, wash clothes, and then join her brothers to hoe the family garden until the sun got too hot. During the heat of the afternoon, she had to feed the chickens, fetch more water, care for the babies, help with more cooking, and gather more fire sticks. Suzana would do all this with a baby – one of her youngest siblings – strapped to her back. She was barefoot and often hungry for hours.

Hauling water from the nearest pond.

One day, Suzana finally had a chance to go to school, every child’s dream. She had thought, being a girl, she would never get to go, since it is rare for girls to be spared from chores to learn. Every morning before walking barefoot to school, she still had to rise before daylight, carry the water, fetch firewood, bathe a baby, dig in the garden. She often did this with no food in her hungry little stomach. There was no time for her mother – who had 8 other children to care for – to make porridge for the family before Suzana began her 30-45 minute walk to the closest village school.

Children hard at work.

But at least she was able to go to school. This was the dream of her heart, as it is for so many little African children. Many never get to go. And though her stomach was growling, she knew she would get a cup of warm porridge when she arrived, the teachers would welcome her, and all the students and children would gather together to pray. How eager she was for those times with her friends, learning in the classrooms, but most of all, learning there was a heavenly Father who loved her more than she could even understand! That was worth it all.

Children raising children.

How many more children, like Suzana, could see their dreams come true, because someone loves them enough to help them with school, pick them up, take them home, and make it possible for those who come from such far distances, to attend?

It is the transformed hearts of “Suzana’s” that will transform the nation! Will you help us raise them up?